1910.219(e): Guarding Belt, Rope and Chain Drives
Employers must guard belt, rope and chain drives. Horizontal belts with both runs seven feet or less from the floor need guards, and belts with both runs 42 inches or less from the floor must be fully enclosed. Overhead belts need guarding depending on their height, speed, pulley spacing and width, and passage between belt runs must be barred or provided with a guarded platform.
Key takeaways
- 1910.219(e) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart O).
- OSHA cited it 412 times in the last 3 years, in 380 inspections, with $616,240 in current penalties.
- 3 deaths are linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NC (35), IA (31), MD (26).
- Related part: 1910.219(e)(1) Horizontal belts and ropes (201 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.219(e) ("Belt, rope, and chain drives") is one requirement inside 1910.219 Mechanical power-transmission apparatus, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart O). It includes 19 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(e) Belt, rope, and chain drives — 412 citations
(1) Horizontal belts and ropes. Open (e)(1) 201 citations
(i) Where both runs of horizontal belts are seven (7) feet or less from the floor level, the guard shall extend to at least fifteen (15) inches above the belt or to a standard height except that where both runs of a horizontal belt are 42 inches or less from the floor, the belt shall be fully enclosed in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Open (e)(1)(i) 195 citations
(ii) In powerplants or power-development rooms, a guardrail may be used in lieu of the guard required by subdivision (i) of this subparagraph.
(2) Overhead horizontal belts. Open (e)(2) 13 citations
(i) Overhead horizontal belts, with lower parts seven (7) feet or less from the floor or platform, shall be guarded on sides and bottom in accordance with paragraph (o)(3) of this section. Open (e)(2)(i) 12 citations
(ii) Horizontal overhead belts more than seven (7) feet above floor or platform shall be guarded for their entire length under the following conditions:
(a) If located over passageways or work places and traveling 1,800 feet or more per minute.
(b) If center to center distance between pulleys is ten (10) feet or more.
(c) If belt is eight (8) inches or more in width.
(iii) Where the upper and lower runs of horizontal belts are so located that passage of persons between them would be possible, the passage shall be either: 1 citations
(a) Completely barred by a guardrail or other barrier in accordance with paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section; or
(b) Where passage is regarded as necessary, there shall be a platform over the lower run guarded on either side by a railing completely filled in with wire mesh or other filler, or by a solid barrier. The upper run shall be so guarded as to prevent contact therewith either by the worker or by objects carried by him. In powerplants only the lower run of the belt need be guarded.
(iv) Overhead chain and link belt drives are governed by the same rules as overhead horizontal belts and shall be guarded in the same manner as belts.
(3) Vertical and inclined belts. Open (e)(3) 193 citations
(i) Vertical and inclined belts shall be enclosed by a guard conforming to standards in paragraphs (m) and (o) of this section. Open (e)(3)(i) 178 citations
(ii) All guards for inclined belts shall be arranged in such a manner that a minimum clearance of seven (7) feet is maintained between belt and floor at any point outside of guard. 8 citations
(4) Vertical belts. Vertical belts running over a lower pulley more than seven (7) feet above floor or platform shall be guarded at the bottom in the same manner as horizontal overhead belts, if conditions are as stated in paragraphs (e)(2)(ii) (a) and (c) of this section. Open (e)(4) 3 citations
(5) Cone-pulley belts. 1 citations
(i) The cone belt and pulley shall be equipped with a belt shifter so constructed as to adequately guard the nip point of the belt and pulley. If the frame of the belt shifter does not adequately guard the nip point of the belt and pulley, the nip point shall be further protected by means of a vertical guard placed in front of the pulley and extending at least to the top of the largest step of the cone. 1 citations
(ii) If the belt is of the endless type or laced with rawhide laces, and a belt shifter is not desired, the belt will be considered guarded if the nip point of the belt and pulley is protected by a nip point guard located in front of the cone extending at least to the top of the largest step of the cone, and formed to show the contour of the cone in order to give the nip point of the belt and pulley the maximum protection.
(iii) If the cone is located less than 3 feet from the floor or working platform, the cone pulley and belt shall be guarded to a height of 3 feet regardless of whether the belt is endless or laced with rawhide.
(6) Belt tighteners. 1 citations
(i) Suspended counterbalanced tighteners and all parts thereof shall be of substantial construction and securely fastened; the bearings shall be securely capped. Means must be provided to prevent tightener from falling, in case the belt breaks.
(ii) Where suspended counterweights are used and not guarded by location, they shall be so encased as to prevent accident. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.219.
Injuries linked to this rule
3 deaths are linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.219(e).
At 10:35 a.m. on December 2, 2024, Employee #1 was performing maintenance on a sensor inside a robotic enclosure. As he entered the area, the robot was stoppedby entrance sensors. While he was cleaning the sensor, a coworker reset the machine from the control panel,…
Full case list with employer, penalty, filters and download is part of OSHA Data (Purple Belt).
Unlock with Purple BeltWhere and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 157 |
| 2025 | 156 |
| 2026 | 75 |
Top states: NC (35), IA (31), MD (26), TN (26), VA (24)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| ELDORADO RESORTS, INC. | RENO, NV | $44,648 |
| 68657 - DURO HILEX POLY LLC | FLORENCE, KY | $28,000 |
| ROMAC DISTRIBUTION TRUSS PLANT | SUMTERVILLE, FL | $16,550 |
| MENASHA PACKAGING COMPANY, LLC PHILADELPHIA DISPLAY GROUP | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $16,131 |
| K & S TIRE RECYCLING, INC. | CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL | $14,300 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.219(e), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
- Guards for Belt and Shaft Drives on Blow Motors (2023-05-08)
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.219(e)(1) Horizontal belts and ropes 201 citations
- 1910.219(e)(1)(i) 195 citations
- 1910.219(e)(3) Vertical and inclined belts 193 citations
- 1910.219(e)(3)(i) 178 citations
- 1910.219(e)(2) Overhead horizontal belts 13 citations
- 1910.219(e)(2)(i) 12 citations
- 1910.219(e)(4) Vertical belts 3 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When must a horizontal belt be fully enclosed?
Where both runs of a horizontal belt are 42 inches or less from the floor.
When must overhead belts more than seven feet up be guarded?
For their entire length if over passageways or work places and traveling 1,800 feet or more per minute, if pulleys are ten feet or more apart center to center, or if the belt is eight inches or more wide.
Can a guardrail replace a belt guard?
In powerplants or power-development rooms, a guardrail may be used in place of the guard for horizontal belts.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.219 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-20
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.